Dodgers Notes: Kershaw, League, Ramirez, Cruz

Good news for Dodgers fans as General Manager Ned Colletti confirmed that Clayton Kershaw will not require surgery on his right hip, tweets Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times. Here's more on what Colletti had to say to reporters with all links going to Hernandez's Twitter..

At this point in time, Colletti is leaning towards Hanley Ramirez playing shortstop in 2013, Hernandez tweets.

Meanwhile, the club is heading into the offseason with the idea that Luis Cruz can be the Dodgers' third baseman in 2013 (Twitter link). Cruz, 28, hit .297/.322/.431 with six homers in 78 games for the Dodgers in 2012. It would make sense for the Dodgers to look in-house for an answer at third with limited options at the position on the open market this winter.

Colletti was asked if Juan Uribe has a place on the team in 2013 and the GM responded "We'll have to see," (Twitter link). To part ways with Uribe, the Dodgers will have to eat the $10.3MM remaining on his deal.

All Dodger fans know. He was not good, but he was not bad enough to be detrimental to the team. if Cruz hits as well as he did this year next season, I think you have to put Hanley at short and then see what you have in Gordon

I’d agree he could be better at 3B except for one thing… Cruz has played himself onto this team. And he is amazing with the glove at 3B. I haven’t seen him at SS, but it is very difficult to find a good defensive 3B. I’d rather have him give you great defense at 3B and have Hanley at SS (happy) and slightly below average defense than risk A. Unrest in the clubhouse and B. not knowing what you’d get from Cruz at SS

Hanley’s value is EXTREMELY higher at SS because there are just a lack of SS who can hit like he has in past seasons. Who is a better hitting SS then him? Tulo, but only when hes healthy. Now if Hanley never gets back to those ’07-’09 years, then it doesn’t matter what he does with his glove. He wont be a productive mlb starter for the Dodgers. The other caveat to his value at SS is if the dodgers pursue a FA 3B in the coming years. If they could find a Chase Headley type player, then they could have a power left side of the infield. But thats a big IF. But Gordon is not the answer to replace him right now.

The point is if he COSTS you runs with his glove playing defense. More to the game than just hitting the Ball.

I could understand him playing SS at 1st (example) for the Marlins when they had Mike Jacobs playing 1b, Uggla at 2b and Cantu at 3b in ’08. All 3 crushed the ball and HAD to get them on the field, but that winter they traded Jacobs for Leo Nunez (now Juan Oviedo) and tried to get Ramirez to 3b and Cantu to 1b.. Ramirez was costing them games with his lack of range, double clutching on throws (both on relays to 2b and 1b) wild/rushed throws following his double clutching, losing balls apparently in that MASSIVE mitt he would wear at SS.

I say that as someone who has SEEN Ramirez play on a daily basis since he came up as a Marlins (and Red Sox) fan. his defense and lack of range issues are more easily covered up at 3b and just think sticking him back at SS is asking for the same awful defense we saw at Miami for years and LAD fans are way more in number and are not going to care for it and be way more vocal about it.

Ramirez also isn’t very “gracious” when it comes to fans taking offense to his defensive miscues.. IE: boo him after a costly blunder and it seems to unerve him, or make him play with less heart.. Watch out afterwards in other words…

That’s what I meant by the Dodgers line up around him. If there is a 3B putting up power numbers and A-Gon is hitting like he did ’07-’10, Hanley at SS is an asset to the team. The bats do out weigh the defense at that point. But that is an “if” that will almost definitely not happen. I was speculating. If the dodgers have Cruz, an unimpressive Kemp/AGon/Ethier and the rest of the this years offensive struggles then Hanley’s defensive issues are more prevalent to the team.

The Dodgers lost 27 one run games i think. Im sure you could attribute a couple of those runs/losses to Hanleys glove which is the difference of them being in a game with the redbirds.

is the answer Cruz or Gordon at SS next season? How many runs does that save with Hanley at 3B? I don’t like either position scenario for Hanley next season with the players the Dodgers have right now, but it may well be what ends up on opening day. Im very aware of Hanley’s short comings on defense and in the attitude department, but his offensive potential is still worth something to the team.

I wish they would’ve locked down a front end pitcher instead of any of the position trades.

Not so sure Beckett won’t be a solid guy in LA for you guys. He really needed a location change and getting to play in that huge park half the time, his really good secondary pitches he still has excellent command of (curve and cutter) should serve him well for LA.

Ted Lilly and Derek Lowe did a nice job for LA and they didn’t have half the talent (nor stuff) Beckett STILL possess and that is without the 95mph FB he no longer has. Beckett is crafty, has 4 good pitches (good change also) and locates his 91-3FB very well. I think the Dodgers will be happy with Beckett, even if something bad ends up happening with Billingsly early on with regards to his elbow.

The scenario of demoting Gordon makes sense, trading him not so much. If Cruz works out to be a flash in the pan, they can move Ramirez to third and promote Gordon, assuming he’s making progress. We all want to believe in Cruuuz but at this point he’s a bit too much of a miracle to believe. I mean, that batting stance alone raises questions. The way I see it, Gordon has to stay in the organization for insurance.

“assuming he’s making progress.” It seems that a lot of fans and some baseball people are under the assumption that Gordon is going to make this progression towards a MLB ready SS in the coming years. Based this past season Cruz and Gordon are pretty much on similar tracks. They will have to produce to have any impact on the starting line up. I can’t imagine a scenario where Gordon is traded for anything significant right now. His trade value can’t be worth what the dodgers would need to get back for him.

Kershaw and Dickey, the 2 best starting pitchers in the NL this year and both pitched hurt. They both gave Cy Young seasons, and even though I am a strong Dickey fan look at Kimbrel people, if he doesn’t get it this year you can never argue giving it to a closer. They should make 3 Cy Young’s one for closers, one for RP and one for SP and give out 1 in each category each year AL/NL

a high Babip is going to come from a line drive hitter. If you watch Cruz, thats all he hits- line drives. It was 1/4 of the season in a playoff race and he hit 290 with a ton of doubles and half dozen bombs. Add in the fact he has a great glove at 3B, and there is very little reason to replace him

Come on. Gordon hit for a respectable batting average throughout his brief minor league career, and his speed is exceptional. His range at shortstop is top notch, and his arm is above average. He’ll develop into a very good defensive shortstop with practice. He just needs to stop airmailing his rushed throws. As far as his bat, obviously drawing more walks and being able to bunt for hits are skills he needs to develop. He’ll serve the Dodgers much better with another season in AAA than being traded now, while his value is arguably lower than it ever has been.

I don’t know what Gordon needs or even if it would help if he got it, if you know what I mean. A guy has good year and he is the next baseball god, a bad year, and they’re calling for his head on a stake. The point is, there’s a lot of rushing to judgement among fans.